Flexible rotary compound tool

ABSTRACT

A COMPLETE SELF-CONTAINED COMPOUND TOOL, USEFUL IN PARTICULAR AS A CARBURETOR-DISTRIBUTOR ADJUSTMENT DEVICE. IT INCORPORATES A FLEXIBLE SHAFT-FLEXIBLE TUBE COMBINATION THAT IS CAPABLE OF FUNCTIONING THROUGH A TORTUOUS PATH AND INTEGRATES IN A SINGLE HEAD TWO IMPLEMENTS, A HEX KEY AND A SCREW DRIVER, EACH BEING RENDERED ALTERNATELY USABLE BY A SLIDING HEAD ADJUSTMENT.

y 1971 R. ULLMAN FLEXIBLE ROTARY COMPOUND TOOL Filed Feb. 7, 1969 Lnmf 7 J-.. 2 6 2 7 a a m T & w a 4 3 2 o G W 4 l2 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT ULLMAN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 01 flee 3,579,677 FLEXIBLE ROTARY COMPOUND TOOL Robert Ullman, Wilton, Conn., assignor to Ullman Devices Corporation, Ridgefield, Conn. Filed Feb. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 797,650 Int. Cl. B25f 1/04 U.S. Cl. 71 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A complete self-contained compound tool, useful in particular as a carburetor-distributor adjustment device. It incorporates a flexible shaft-flexible tube combination that is capable of functioning through a tortuous path and integrates in a single head two implements, a hex key and a screw driver, each being rendered alternately usable by a sliding head adjustment.

This invention relates to a versatile compound rotary hand tool with a flexible shaft and distinct work engaging elements whose respective elements may be alternately positioned for use to engage either of two different work pieces, e.g. two diflerent kinds of screws, for example, slotted or hex screws; a screw and a nut; etc.

-In many operations, access to locations where a tool must be used presents serious difficulties and in others where the tool can be inserted, the operation is very time consuming. The tool of the present invention is aimed at alleviating such difliculties. It will be described in conjunction with its use as a carburetor and electrical current distributor adjustment tool for multicylinder engines where it finds particular advantages, although its use is not restricted thereto because it will be apparent that the tool may be advantageously used in other applications.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel compound rotary hand tool characterized by a flexible shaft which permits its use in difiicultly accessible locations and tolerates bending of the shaft in more than one plane and in arcs exceeding 360 without interfering with its use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel rotary compound hand tool whose respective tools which may be used in the alternate are positioned in a single head in telescoping relationship.

It is another and more specific object of the invention to provide a novel carburetor and electrical distributor adjustment tool, i.e. a device to adjust contact breaker points which direct the electrical current from the coil to the various spark plugs and to adjust fuel-air mixtures characterized by a hex key for engaging an Allen screw and a screw driver arranged to telescopically extend and retract linearly over said hex key to permit the engagement of the screw driver with a cross cut screw head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, provided hereinafter when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental view partly in section, illustrating the assembly in the handle of the flexible shaft and surrounding flexible tube.

PIG. 3 is a fragmental view, partly in section, of the head, or implement end of the tool, showing a portion of the flexible shaft and flexible tube with the sleeve part of the head retracted and the hex key tool centrally located in the sleeve is extended in operable position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view similar to FIG. 3 except that the sleeve on which the screw driver is mounted is 3,579,677 Patented May 25, 1971 extended so that the screw driver is positioned beyond the end of the hex key.

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially in a plane shown by line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially in a plane shown by line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

In accordance with the present invention, the compound tool comprises a flexible rotatable shaft which is housed in a flexible tube and secured to a handle for turning at one end. The shaft is secured at the other end to a first work piece engaging tool element which is concentrically positioned within a sleeve carrying near its end a second tool element e.g. a screw driver; the latter may be extended linearly beyond the extremity of the first tool element to engage a work piece and alternately it may be retracted to permit instead the use of the now relatively extended first tool element.

Referring in greater detail to the various figures in the drawing wherein similar reference numerals refer to similar parts, the tool comprises a flexible shaft 11 securely attached at one end to a handle 13 by means of handle insert 12, and at the other end to a head assembly 17 by adapter 16. The shaft 11 is enclosed within a flexible tube 10 and allowed to freely rotate relative thereto. In use, the tube 10 and the adapter 16 attached thereto, remain relatively stationary as the shaft 11, handle 13 and the head 17 are rotated in unison. The flexible shaft 11 and flexible enclosing tube 10 are of conventional commercially available structure. The make up of shaft '11 is practically a solid structure which includes a single central wire or mandrel over which a plurality of successive layers of wire are wound concentrically, each successive layer alternating in pitch and direction. The shaft 11 is secured to the handle 13 by any suitable means such as by the handle insert 12 which comprises ferrule-like portion extending over the end of the flexible tube 10, and a reduced portion or stub 15. Handle stub 15 is press fitted into handle 513. Stub 15 may be advantageously provided with a fluted threaded or comprise other irregular surfaced segment 14 to improve the grip of the insert within the handle into which the stub 15 of the insert 12 may be forced. The segment 15 may be also secured by other suitable means such as adhesive. The handle 13 is preferably fluted to provide a better grip and may be formed of any suitable composition such as wood, rubber, or any of various plastics such as cellulose acetate butyrate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like.

The handle end of the tube 10 is carried within, but allowed to rotate with respect to, the ferrule part of handle insert 12 and appropriately secured therein such as by crimping.

At the other end of the flexible shaft 11 from the handle 13, a head 17 comprising a slide 18 and a telescoping sleeve 22 is attached. The head may be securely engaged to the shaft 11 by suitable connection such as by crimping one end of the slide 18 over the end of the flexible shaft 11. The flexible shaft 11 is inserted into the flexible tube 10 after assembly of the slide 18 on the flexible shaft 11. The slide 18 at the other end carries a tool element such as the hex key 21.

The sleeve 22 in its froward part is provided with a screw driver element 25 which is secured in the sleeve 22 such as by a pressed fit. The screw driver element 25 has a central passage 27 through which the hex key 21 passes and tongue or screw driver portions 26 which fit in the slot of a conventional screw. Shown in phantom at 32 and 33 are an Allen screw and a conventional slotted screw engageable by hex key 21 and screw driver 26 respectively.

The slide 18 is provided with one integral formed groove 20 at one end, and a detent 19 of approximately & x 

